Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 13:56:49 -0500
From: "Scott Mindeaux"
Subject: NEW STUDY DEBUNKS THE MYTH OF GAY WEALTH
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PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
http://www.ngltf.org
Contact:
Tracey Conaty
tconaty@ngltf.org
202-3326483 ext. 3303
800-757-6476 pager
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NEW STUDY DEBUNKS THE MYTH OF GAY WEALTH
WASHINGTON, DC---December 3, 1998--- A new study released today resoundingly
debunks widely held beliefs about the economic status of gay, lesbian, and
bisexual (GLB) people. Contrary to what has become the conventional wisdom
on the subject, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people do not earn more than
heterosexual people. In fact, they may even earn less. Income Inflation:
The Myth of Affluence Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Americans was
released today by the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force and the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (IGLSS). The
report was authored by M.V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., professor of economics at
the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and executive director of IGLSS.
Income Inflation is a startling study of the economic status of a frequently
stereotyped population of Americans. Badgett explores the pervasive and
inaccurate notion that GLB people form an economic elite, insulated from
discrimination by their wealth and disconnected from society at large by a
special, privileged status. After examining data from seven different
surveys, she finds that none support this stereotype.
"The evidence from many different scientifically sound data sources points
to the same clear conclusion: gay, lesbian, and bisexual people do not earn
more than heterosexual people, either as individuals or as couples,"
reported Badgett. "Some GLB people are poor, some are rich, and most are in
the middle, just as heterosexual people are. Now that we have credible
data, we can stop relying on flawed studies that were designed to find high
income gay people."
Right-wing organizations and individuals perpetuate and regularly exploit
the myth of gay wealth to bolster their attacks against the gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender community. The myth is so pervasive and accepted
that even Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia injected it into the
dissenting opinion in the Colorado Amendment Two case. “We have long known
that the myth of gay wealth is just that - a myth,” said Urvashi Vaid,
director of the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
“Income Inflation shines the light of truth on yet another of the Right’s
distortion of the facts,” added Vaid.
(Please note: The transgender population is among the least examined by
social scientists. Because of this lack of data, the inclusive term GLBT is
used only when it is accurate to represent the community as a whole.)
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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate prejudice,
violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
people at the local, state and national level since its inception in 1973.
As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and
equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the
diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully
participate in society.
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